Livelihood vulnerability of char area a comparative study between riverine and coastal chars

Abstract

The most vulnerable and landless displaced people of Bangladesh usually live on the newly created sandy islands, which are locally known as char. Char areas are disaster-prone areas and frequently face flooding, cyclones, erosion, and accretion. These events affect the flow of life and the livelihood of the people living there. These climatic shocks not only affect their livelihood but also create vulnerable conditions for them. Livelihood vulnerability assessment explores the extent to which a community is exposed to coping with natural hazards, climatic events, and social and economic pressure. This research work investigated the livelihood vulnerability of both riverine char (Hasail-Banari, Padma Char) and coastal char (Noler Char) communities to determine which entities are more exposed to natural disasters and climate change. This study assessed and compared the vulnerability of the livelihoods of riverine and coastal char communes using the Hahn, Riederer, and Foster (2009) Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI). In addition, factor analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were utilized to identify the influential indicators of the livelihood vulnerability index. A structured questionnaire survey and focus group discussions were used to collect primary data for this study. The findings showed that in each of the chars, a household typically consists of four people, with one family member having completed primary schooling. The average monthly income of residents in riverine and coastal char is 14,302.00 BDT and 12,357.50 BDT, respectively. Based on the LVI calculation, the coastal char commune exhibited a marginally higher level of vulnerability (0.13) than riverine char (0.11). Following the exploratory factor analysis, twenty-two variables were retained under eight major components that induce the livelihood vulnerability of char communities. Finally, multiple linear regression analysis showed six independent variables that influence the livelihood vulnerability score. These variables are number. of members completes primary schooling, number of pigeons, number of income sources, number of meals you take in a day, cultivable land amount owned by the household and rented cultivable land amount. Determining the significantly influential elements of the vulnerability index provides a clear vision of the challenges limiting the residents' coping capabilities. This research offers policymakers significant insights for modifying existing policies and implementing alternative strategies to help people in riverine and coastal char areas adapt to the impacts of disasters and climate change.